Dressing Assistance Device

ABSTRACT

A dressing assistance device. The dressing assistance device includes a base having a pair of opposing ends, a pair of vertical supports extending from the opposing ends of the base, a horizontal support disposed between an upper end of each of the vertical supports, a pair of lifting arms disposed on the pair of vertical supports in sliding engagement therewith, and a fastener disposed each lifting arm for securing a portion of a garment to the lifting arm. A motor in operative communication with each of the pair of lifting arms controls the movement of the pair of lifting arms between a first position at a lower end of the pair of vertical supports and a second position at an upper end of the pair of vertical supports. The dressing assistance device assists users when putting on a pull-up diaper or other waist-supported garment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Design patent application No. 29/692,234 filed on May 23, 2019 which claims the benefit U.S. application Ser. No. 15/296,190 filed on Oct. 18, 2016 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/243,822 filed on Oct. 20, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dressing assistance devices. More specifically, the present invention provides a dressing assistance device having movable arms for raising and lowering a pull-up diaper or other waist-supported clothing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For many young children, learning to get dressed can be a difficult process. It can be particularly difficult for a toddler to learn to use pull-up diapers. The toddler may have difficulty stepping into the leg openings of the diaper, grasping the diaper, and pulling the diaper upward along his or her legs and into position around his or her waist. As a result, the toddler may wear the diaper incorrectly, which can result in the pull-up diaper failing to collect waste properly. Additionally, an incorrectly worn pull-up diaper may cause discomfort to the wearer.

Many adult individuals also have difficulty dressing themselves for various reasons. For example, it can be difficult for elderly individuals who have joint problems, arthritis, back problems, or other ailments to bend over in order to put on a pair of pants. Some individuals may require assistance from another individual when dressing themselves, which may not always be available. Further, the action of lifting clothing upward along the legs can cause pain or exacerbate existing injuries. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a device for assisting individuals in dressing that does not require undue physical exertion or the help of an additional individual.

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to dressing assistance devices. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to static devices having pull straps, such as U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2005/0205619, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2014/0163513, U.S. Pat. No. 8,091,748, and U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2009/0039118.

The devices disclosed in the prior art have several known drawbacks. These devices require physical exertion of the user in the form of a pulling motion. The devices in the prior art typically utilize a strap to extend the user's reach, but these devices still require motion and exertion on the part of the user. Further, these devices fail to provide an upstanding motorized lift for automatically raising a pair of pants upward along the legs of the wearer.

In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing dressing assistance devices. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of dressing assistance devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a dressing assistance device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when dressing themselves, particularly when putting on a pair of pants, pull-up diaper, or other waste-supported garment. The dressing assistance device includes a base having a pair of opposing ends, a pair of vertical supports each extending from the opposing ends of the base, a horizontal support disposed between an upper end of each of the vertical supports, and a pair of lifting arms disposed on the pair of vertical supports. A fastener is disposed on a free end of each lifting arm, the fastener configured to secure a portion of a garment to the lifting arm. The dressing assistance device further includes a motor in operative communication with each of the pair of lifting arms. A control in operative communication with the motor is configured to raise and lower the pair of lifting arms, wherein the pair of lifting arms are movable between a first position at a lower end of the pair of vertical supports and a second position at an upper end of the pair of vertical supports.

One object of the present invention is to provide a dressing assistance device having all of the advantages and none of the disadvantages of prior art dressing assistance devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dressing assistance device having a pair of lifting arms with hands resembling human hands for providing comfort and amusement to a small child using the device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dressing assistance device that automatically raises or lowers a waist-supported garment to assist with dressing an individual without the need for additional intervention from another individual.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dressing assistance device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a dressing assistance device according to the present invention with the lifting arms in a lowered position.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a dressing assistance device according to the present invention with the lifting arms in a raised position.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a dressing assistance device according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the hands of the dressing assistance device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the dressing assistance device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for assisting an individual when putting on a pair of pants or other waist-supported garment. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a dressing assistance device according to the present invention. The dressing assistance device generally comprises a base 12 having a pair of opposing ends 14. The base 12 preferably has a planar lower surface for stably supporting the dressing assistance device on the ground. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 12 includes a tapered portion 26 at the opposing ends 14 thereof, such that the opposing ends 14 have a width greater than the width of a center portion of the base 12. The tapered portion 26 provides additional surface area for ground contact which in turn provides stability to the dressing assistance device 12. Additionally, a lower surface 13 of the base 12 may include a high friction material thereon for preventing the dressing assistance device from sliding along the floor during use.

The dressing assistance device further comprises a pair of vertical supports 15 disposed on the base 12. The vertical supports 15 extend vertically from the base 12 and are oriented such that they are perpendicular to the base 12. A horizontal support 21 is disposed between upper ends 16 of each of the vertical supports 15. The base 12, vertical supports 15, and horizontal support 21 form a stable rectangular frame. The dimensions of the rectangular frame may vary in alternate embodiments. For example, the frame may be provided in one size for use by toddlers and a larger size for use by adults.

The vertical supports 15 further comprise a track 17 thereon. The track 17 extends from the lower end of the vertical supports to the upper end 16 of the vertical supports 15. A lifting arm 18 is connected to each of the vertical supports 15. Each lifting arm 18 extends perpendicularly from its respective vertical support 15. The lifting arms 18 each include a first end that slidably engages with the track 17 of the vertical support 15, which allows the lifting arms to move upward and downward along the length of the vertical support 15.

A second end 23 of each lifting arm 18 includes a fastener 24 thereon. Each fastener 24 is configured to secure a garment to the second end 23 of each lifting arm 18. The fasteners 24 are each disposed on an inner surface of the second end 23 of the lifting arms 15, such that the fastener 24 on one lifting arm 18 faces the direction of the other fastener 24 on the opposing lifting arm 18. The fastener 24 may be a spring biased clip, a strap, hook and loop material, or any other fastener capable of securing a garment to the lifting arm 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the second end 23 of the lifting arm 18 is adapted to resemble a human hand in order to provide comfort and amusement for a toddler utilizing the dressing assistance device. In alternate embodiments, the second end 23 of the lifting arm 18 may have a different shape, which may be the same shape as the rest of the lifting arm 18.

In the illustrated embodiment, a control 22 is disposed on the horizontal support 21. The control 22 is configured to operate the lifting arms 18, and can include individual buttons for raising and lowering the lifting arms 18. The control 22 is in operative communication with a motor 19 disposed within the dressing assistance device. A power supply 20 supplies electrical power to the motor 19. The power supply 20 may be a rechargeable battery or a connection with a wall outlet. The motor 19 is in operative communication with each of the lifting arms 18. When operated via the control 22, the motor 19 causes the lifting arms 18 to be either raised or lowered along the track 17 of the vertical support 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are shown perspective views of a dressing assistance device according to the present invention with the lifting arms in a lowered position and a raised position, respectively. In order to use the dressing assistance device, a user 101 may first operate the control to lower the lifting arms 18 to a lowered position at the lower end of the vertical supports 15. The user may then secure a garment 103 such as a pull-up diaper or pair of pants to the second end 23 of each lifting arm 18 via the fasteners 25. It is preferable that the garment is secured to the lifting arms 18 such that the front of the garment faces toward the dressing assistance device, and further preferable that a left leg portion of the garment is secured to one lifting arm while the opposing leg portion is secured to the other lifting arm.

Once the garment is secured to the lifting arms, the user 101 may then step into the garment 103, placing their legs through the leg openings. The user may then activate the control, causing the lifting arms 18 to move upward along the track 17 toward the upper end 16 of the vertical supports 15 in order to raise the garment 103 toward the user's 101 waist. Once the garment is raised to the desired height, the user may cease activation of the control, thus ceasing movement of the lifting arms 18. The user 101 may then disconnect the garment 103 from the fasteners 25. In this way, the dressing assistance device, may be utilized to assist an individual when putting on a waist-supported garment.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of a dressing assistance device according to the present disclosure. FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the fasteners of the dressing assistance device. In this embodiment the fasteners 25 are still hand shaped. The hands themselves are configured to be the fasteners. The hand fasteners are configured to be closed around an undergarment 401. When the hand fasteners 25 are closed, they will create enough pressure to secure an undergarment 401 in the grasp such that the machine can put the undergarment up. This will simulate a hand holding the garment. This will make a user feel more secure. Further, the hands will help a younger child better understand the process.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the hands of the dressing assistance device. In one embodiment the hand fasteners 25 are made of a single material. In another embodiment the hand fasteners are made from multiple layers of materials. In the shown embodiment the hand fasteners are comprised of an inner material 501 and an exterior material 502.

The inner material 501 of the hand clasps is a flexible material. This inner material 501 will hold its shape when bent. The inner material 501 will be capable of holding its shape even under pressure. In one embodiment the inner material 501 is spring steel. In another embodiment the inner material 501 is iron. The inner material 501 may also be other materials that possess the described properties.

The exterior material 502 will encase the inner material 501. The exterior material 502 may have varying properties. In one embodiment the exterior material 502 is a high friction material. In another embodiment the exterior material 502 has a non-residue adhesive property. This will removably secure to the garment leaving no residue. In a further embodiment the exterior material 502 is a flexible material. This will allow the inner material 501 to bend and flex without tearing the exterior material 502. In one embodiment the exterior material 502 is a rubber material. In another embodiment the exterior material 502 is a silicone-based material. In yet another embodiment the exterior material 502 is a plastic material.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) A dressing assistance device, comprising: a base having a pair of opposing ends; a pair of vertical supports each extending from the opposing ends of the base; a horizontal support disposed between an upper end of each of the vertical supports; the base, the pair of vertical supports, and the horizontal support defining a central opening therebetween; a pair of lifting arms disposed on the pair of vertical supports; wherein each of the pair of arms is continuously oriented perpendicular to each of the pair of vertical supports; a fastener disposed on a free end of each lifting arm, the fastener configured to secure a portion of a garment to the lifting arm, wherein the fastener is a hand shaped fastener; wherein each of the pair of lifting arms is movable within along a track on each of the pair of vertical supports, wherein the track does not intersect a top surface single plane of the horizontal support that defines a first horizontal plane at any position of within the track, the first horizontal plane parallel to the base a ground surface; a motor in operative communication with each of the pair of lifting arms; and a control in operative communication with the motor, the control configured to raise and lower the pair of lifting arms, wherein the pair of lifting arms are movable between a first position at a lower end of the pair of vertical supports and a second position at an upper end of the pair of vertical supports. 2) The dressing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the hand shaped fastener is comprised of an interior material and an exterior material. 3) The dressing assistance device of claim 2, wherein the interior material is a spring steel; the spring steel is configured to open and close the fastener. 4) The dressing assistance device of claim 2, wherein the exterior material is a high friction material. 5) The dressing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the control is disposed on the horizontal support. 6) The dressing assistance device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply operatively connected to the motor. 7) The dressing assistance device of claim 9, wherein the power supply is a rechargeable battery. 8) The dressing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a tapered center portion, wherein a width of the opposing ends of the base is greater than a width of the tapered center portion. 9) The dressing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the hand-shaped fastener includes a plurality of fingers. 10) The dressing assistance device of claim 1, wherein each of the hand-shaped fastener includes an open palm side facing the opposing hand-shaped member. 